How to Reverse a Vasectomy

Overview

Vasectomy reversal is performed in an outpatient setting in the hospital. When the tubes that carry ejaculate from the testicles are reattached, sperm enters the semen, restoring male fertility in approximately half of cases. Your physician can perform a vasectomy reversal regardless of the amount of time that has passed since vasectomy was performed. According to the John Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins, 10 percent of men opt for vasectomy reversal. The reasons vary depending life situation.

Step 1

Choose your surgeon carefully. Vasectomy reversal requires more skill than performing vasectomy. If you decide to have your vasectomy reversed, see a urologist with experience. Find out how many procedures she has performed. Ask for success rate statistics. Reversing a vasectomy is more difficult than a vasectomy and requires microsurgery. Your physician may not be as skilled with vasectomy reversal, and open discussion is important. Do not be afraid to ask how frequently your surgeon performs the procedure.

Step 2

Travel to a top-rated urologist to have your vasectomy reversed if none are in your area. Forget about proximity and convenience. Find a top-rated surgeon who has performed many vasectomy reversal procedures with success. The inconvenience of traveling is well worth the potential for complications and failure.

Step 3

Look for a surgeon specially trained to perform microvascular surgery. The chances of successful vasectomy reversal are increased when a highly skilled surgeon performs the procedure.. No physician should tell you results are guaranteed.

Step 4

Learn about the surgery. The procedure itself involves reattaching the ends of the vas deferens that carries sperm and is called a vasovasostomy. Next the vas deferens is reattached to the epidydimis, contained in the back of the scrotum. Vasectomy reversal requires a small incision. If necessary, the surgeon will perform a procedure called vasoepididymostomy that attaches the vas deferens directly to the epidydimis. Your physician decides which procedure will work best at the time of surgery.

Step 5

Discuss your chances of success with your doctor, including risks and benefits. Vasectomy reversal success depends on your surgeon's skill. Recovery time is short and the surgery is relatively painless. Vasectomy reversal failure is possible, and the surgery may have to be redone.